August 3, 2011

Went to my first physical therapy session in six weeks. The flexion of my knee has reached 125 degrees compared to 110 in June. I was not that surprised since I knew it had improved a lot. Yet it was a goal I had tried to reach for such a long time that a strange mix of emotions washed over me. I was of course relieved to see that the product of my work was finally showing but I also realized at the same time that I had now another goal to accomplish. The flexion of my right knee is 140/145 degrees so I’m not yet there. Besides, the extension is still shy of a few degrees. So now the same question remains. Should I consider another surgery? It would remove the scarring tissues but I have improved so much that I wonder if it is necessary. Would six more weeks help me to close the gap? The surgery is elective, my PT told me. Does it mean that now I am fully responsible when it comes to take the decision? When I was operated nobody had warned me of the possibility of complications or even mentioned the name scarring tissues. It happened and the solution seems to be a cleaning of the knee. But now it is called elective surgery so I am of course worried. Why should it be when obviously something went wrong either with the healing process or the physical therapy?
On the other side I have accomplished so much and regained a lot of strength that perhaps it will be nothing and I will regret having waiting so long.
The rest of the session was spent with some of my usual exercises and new ones. One or them, designed to stretch the quadriceps, is replacing the exercise I used to do on my stomach with a resistance band slipped underneath my foot to pull my knee toward my back. Now, facing down a table I put my foot beneath me until I feel the stretch in my quad. I use some form of pole as a support in front of me.
I did the stork and stairs exercises without any trouble. Biking was of course easy since I have been using a regular bike during the summer. The elliptical was also fine and I gained some speed.
All together it was great to be back and see everyone. They were as always supportive and caring. I am proud of many of my accomplishments but disappointed to still have a question to solve.
Surgery or not surgery?